Nyoirin-ji Temple

Nara

The tomb of the emperor who passed away in hopelessness
Teaches us the fleeing nature of this life

It is said that Nyoirinji was built more than 1100 years ago around 900. This is one of the temples at which the 96th Emperor Godaigo (rein 1318-1339) prayed for blessing to the country and prosperity of his descendents. The emperor confronted Kamakura Shogunate on a successor issue, started and lost a battle against the government, and fled. After the downfall of the Shogunate, he came back to control the country but fell from power again, hoped for comeback but was taken with illness and passed away.

The hill behind the temple holds the tomb of the emperor who died in hopelessness. In the precinct, there are mausoleum housing a wooden figure allegedly made by the emperor himself and a treasure house with a collection of articles related to the emperor. Matsuo Basho (1644-1694), a famous haiku poet in the Edo Period (1603-1868), visited the temple and wrote many haiku thinking about the political turmoil in the distant past and dramas of people involved. Lingering in this temple, you may feel poetically inspired and wish to write something.

Information

Address: Yoshinoyama, Yoshino-cho, NaraPhone: 0746-32-3008Hours open to visitors: 8:00-16:00 (9:00-16:00 from December to February)Admission Fee: 400 yen (adults); 200 yen (junior/senior high school student); (100 yen (elementary school students)Closed: Irregular holidaysDirections: (Train) A 30 minute walk from Yoshino Station on the Kintetsu Yoshino Line (one hour and 30 minutes from Shin-Osaka).